Why would Brockton resident and Archbishop Williams junior point guard Leah Spencer want to deal with morning traffic every day to travel to the coed Roman Catholic school?

It came down to the books and an orange ball.

“It was both the Catholic education and the basketball program,” said Spencer, a junior point guard, on her decision to attend Archbishop Williams. “I know they had a history of winning and I knew the coach and I know the team was going to be good for me.

“It was 50/50, I mean I wasn’t going to come here without the education. Education is really important. If there wasn’t good education, then I probably wouldn’t have decided to come here.”

The Bishops have an impressive recent history, winning four consecutive South Sectional Finals from 2007-2010, winning back-to-back division state championships in 2007 and 2008 and sending six players to play at the college level since 2008.

“I was excited to come here because of that,” said the Brockton native of the Bishops’ winning ways. “I mean I want to win a championship, so that was a part of the reason I came here.”

The 2013 version of the Bishops have added to that legacy, winning the South Sectional Finals and had a successful trip to the TD Garden on Monday, with a 52-38 win over North Sectional champion Pentucket in the state championship semi-finals.

“I mean, that was an unbelievable experience,” said Spencer of the trip the Boston Celtics’ home floor. “I mean it’s the Garden. How can you not be excited to be there?”

Spencer wasn’t star-struck long by the thought of playing on the same court as the best basketball players in the world.

“It was nerve-racking, but we couldn’t let our nerves get to us so we had to play through it,” said Spencer. “After awhile I was like, ‘I’m at the Garden?’ I kind of forgot.”

On Saturday at 10:45 a.m., the Bishops will take on Lee at the DCU Center in Worcester for the Div. 3 state championship.

“It’s been really exciting,” said Spencer of the run. “We’re all happy that we made it this far and we’re playing for a state championship Saturday. It’s not an opportunity that everyone gets so we’re blessed and really thankful for that.”

Archbishop Williams head coach Jim Bancroft has been impressed with Spencer from day one.

“Leah is just a hard-nosed point guard,” said Bancroft, “ ... Right off the bat, when she came in ... we kind of went over expectations of hard work and all I had to do was say it once and she comes out and she busts her butt in practice everyday.”

That hard work has started to translate on the floor.

Page 2 of 2 - “She’s developed a game,” said Bancroft. “She’s driven to get better and play at the college level and she’s done everything that I’ve asked her to do ... and in the off-season to get better.

“She’s just a hard worker and (is) developing some really good point guard skills.”

Spencer doesn’t seem too concerned with the morning commute.

“It’s great,” said Spencer. “I love it here, my teammates are great, my coaches are great and I get great support and I’m learning a lot so it’s been good.”